Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
by Geraint Jones
published: 21 / 1 / 2007
Label:
Vagrant
Format: CD
intro
Sleazy, evocative tales of sex, drugs, booze and rock and roll on third album from much hyped Minneapolis-band the Hold Steady, which will appeal to fans of early Springsteen, Thin Lizzy and the Replacements
Infused with angst, boundless energy and no little insight, the Hold Steady’s third album is deservedly reaping the band long overdue widespread acclaim. While a long way past his teenage years, front-man Craig Finn clearly has a deep well of experience from which to draw. His sleazy, evocative songs about sex, drugs, booze and rock and roll, inspired by growing up in Minneapolis, demonstrate such an understanding of his subject matter that whether you’re 36 and getting nostalgic or 16 and in the thick of it, in Manchester or Des Moines, you’ll find plenty of common ground here. Coupled to the band’s inspired pilfering of some of rock’s greats – early Springsteen, Thin Lizzy and the Replacements, the latter at both their sloppiest and their most sublime (Craig Finn is a confessed huge admirer of the Paul Westerberg-fronted Minneapolis legends), then given a Hold Steady make over, ‘Boys And Girls In America’ is an inspiring and hugely thrilling ride from start to finish. Arriving soon for their first ever UK shows, The Hold Steady seem guaranteed to make a big impact this year and hopefully well beyond. Setting an early benchmark for 2007, come the year’s end ‘Boys And Girls In America’ is going to take some beating.
Track Listing:-
1 Stuck Between Stations2 Chips Ahoy
3 Hot Soft Light
4 Same Kooks
5 First Night
6 Party Pit
7 You Can Make Him Like You
8 Massive Nights
9 Citrus
10 Chill Out
11 South Town Girls
interviews |
|
Interview (2007) |
|
| Literary American garage rockers the Hold Steady have met with massive acclaim for their third album, 'Boys and Girls in America'. Chris O' Toole speaks to guitarist Tad Kubler about the band's increasing popularity and the inspiration for their work |
live reviews |
|
Hold Steady / So So Glos - Garage, Glasgow, 15/10/2014 |
|
| Tony Gaughan enjoys powerful sets from the much acclaimed Hold Steady and their tour mates, Brooklyn power punk outfit the So So Glos, at the ABC in Glasgow |
| Rock City, Nottingham, 9/12/2008 |
| Dublin Castle, London, 18/1/2008 |
| Borderline, London, 17//2/2007 |
reviews |
|
Chips Ahoy (2007) |
|
| Catchy vinyl only latest single from the much acclaimed Hold Steady |
| Chips Ahoy ! (2006) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
related articles |
|
Craig Finn: Interview (2017 |
|
| Craig Finn, the front man with the much acclaimed the Hold Steady, speaks to Benjamin Howarth about his third solo album, ‘We All Want the Same Things’ |
| Craig Finn: Live Review (2015) |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart